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Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor has lauded Rio Ngumoha’s latest performance after the teenager stole the show once again in pre-season.
Given just around 30 minutes of the Reds’ pre-season friendly against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday, the 16-year-old wasted no time in making another big impression.
Ngumoha scored Liverpool’s third in a 3-1 win in Japan, and carried a constant threat from the left as he again underlined the potential that has seen his stock go through the roof over the past year or so, with supporters even suggesting he could already be the perfect replacement for Luis Diaz.
The former Chelsea youngster has caught the eye throughout pre-season, having also scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Stoke earlier this month, but his display in Yokohama was perhaps his best of the summer so far.
Mellor knows all about what it takes to break into the Liverpool first team from the academy, having done so during his own playing career, and he’s in no doubt Ngumoha has the tools to follow the same pathway.
Analyzing Ngumoha and fellow academy star Trey Nyoni’s performances - with the midfielder also on the scoresheet in the Reds’ latest outing - Mellor told LFCTV: "The academy is in a really good place and it has been for a number of years.
“Now they are all on one site, it helps the younger lads like Nyoni and Ngumoha to be noticed easier. There are more opportunities to train with first team players and if you impress, you can get an opportunity in preseason tours.
“There haven't been many youngsters called up by Arne Slot, but these two have. They have been given a chance and they have taken it.”
Focusing on Ngumoha, Mellor added: “At 16, you can be tempted to play the easier ball. But you need that quality and belief.
“Ngumoha picks the ball up on the halfway line and takes responsibility. He isn't fully developed in terms of physicality. Learning around some of the best players in world football will do him well. How many 16-year-olds are trusted at this level?
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“Luis Diaz has moved on. There is one less option in his way, and I am a big believer in learning around the best, Salah, Van Dijk. These are role models who will help young players if they do step out of line."
Ngumoha will almost certainly get more opportunities before the start of the new season, with Liverpool set to return to Merseyside now ahead of a double header against Athletic Bilbao on Monday, before heading to Wembley to take on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.
Giving his thoughts on Ngumoha’s latest performance, Liverpool boss Slot said: “We have a lot of very good players, but to get some from the academy is helpful. It gives us energy.
“There was a moment where he should've squared it so he can learn. But if you are 16 and you impact the game like he did, that's definitely a compliment.”
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